Malawi President, Lazarus Chakwera, gives a thumbs-up after receiving an AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Zomba, Malawi, Thursday, March 11, 2021.
The director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that as Africa strives to vaccinate 60% of its 1.3 billion people as quickly as possible, the continent must develop its capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines.
African countries are getting vaccines from the international COVAX initiative and from donors like India, China and Russia, which are producing vaccines.
At least five African countries appear to have the capacity to produce vaccines, Africa CDC director, Dr. John Nkengasong, said in a press briefing, citing South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt.
A meeting is planned for April 12 between the African Union and outside partners to create a “roadmap” for boosting African capacity to eventually produce COVID-19 vaccines, Nkengasong said.